Chapter 3

The moment I finished speaking, the fake Adam's expression changed instantly. Cold sweat formed on his forehead.

He let out a few nervous laughs and forced out, "Alright, I'll go pour some water for everyone."

He turned and walked toward the kitchen.

I wanted to stop him, but the people around me smiled and nodded. "Sure, thank you!"

I let out a cold snort, thinking to myself, "Not so fast. You're not going anywhere that easily."

Before long, a crashing sound came from the kitchen, as if glass had shattered, followed by a startled cry from the fake Adam.

He emerged, clutching his finger, wearing an apologetic expression. "Sorry. I don't think I can paint today."

I didn't wait for him to recover. I stepped forward and grabbed his hand. Blood seeped from a cut that ran along his finger.

I raised an eyebrow. "How convenient. You injured your finger at exactly this time. Don't tell me this is just an excuse to avoid everyone."

The crowd exchanged confused glances.

Someone muttered under their breath, "Yeah, why now of all times?"

At that moment, Erica hurried down from upstairs.

Her face was dark with worry. She shoved me aside and leaned toward the fake Adam. "Adam, are you okay? Where are you hurt?"

He lowered his head and forced a pained expression. "Erica, it's fine. It really was an accident. It's not his fault…"

I smirked. "Erica, isn't this suspicious? Adam is a renowned artistic genius, and sketching is his specialty. You've been with him for so long. Haven't you ever seen him at work?"

Erica frowned, and she glared at me with suppressed fury.

"That's enough! Stop rubbing salt in Adam's wound. He just got here and already had an accident. His finger is badly injured, and he won't be able to paint anymore."

The fake Adam kept his head lowered, but a glimmer of satisfaction flashed in his eyes. He played the pitiful act. "I'm really sorry I can't paint for everyone, but you can't say I was lying…"

I let out a derisive laugh. "What a convenient coincidence! Don't tell me your finger is injured again today, just like before. Are your fingers so fragile that they break every time someone questions you?"

Suspicion etched itself on the crowd's faces, and they whispered among themselves.

The fake Adam's expression shifted. He put on a hurt look and said, "How can you say that? That car accident was the most painful experience of my life, and you just have to pick at it. Do you have a grudge against me or something?"

Erica's face darkened like a storm. She glared at me. "Are you done yet? Adam is the victim here. Stop making a scene!"

She lifted the fake Adam's hand and pointed to the scar. "This is proof. The hospital report is right here if you want to see it yourself."

The crowd gasped. "Oh, so that's what really happened. I never would have guessed."

The fake Adam raised his head and let out a sigh. Wearing an expression of guilt, he said, "Anyway, I'm still sorry for disappointing everyone…"

I let out a cold snort. "Is that so? You really went to great lengths just to deceive people…"

Erica's face instantly flushed red with anger. She stormed forward and shouted, "What do you mean by that? Are you deliberately picking on Adam?"